#Documentary Filmmaking: Redux

[communitytvheritageposts]

Community Heritage Post

"the incest episode" "the ass crack episode" "the law and order episode" "the timeline episode" "the zombie episode" "the std episode" "the dictator episode" "the civil war episode" "the conspiracy theory episode" "the lava episode" "the paintball episodes" "the documentary episodes" "the drug episode" "the g.i. joe episode" "the stop motion episode" "the magic trampoline episode" "the episode with joe biden" "the eastern european war crimes episode" "the video game episode" "the puppet episode" "the body swap episode" "the d&d episodes" "the grifting episode" and the whole time it's just nbc's community (2009)

[sophsun1]

Community – 3.08: Documentary Filmmaking: Redux

[gamoraswonder]

COMMUNITY | “Documentary Filmmaking: Redux”

[defectivegembrain]

It's actually fascinating to watch Abed's learning process through documentary making. Like in Introduction to Film, obviously Six Candles is very clunky and simple, but it gets the point across. It couldn't not, Abed very rigidly pushes to get that specific story, even if he has to cobble it together from clip art and manufactured conflict. The message is all that matters, because it's the first time he's had the tools to communicate it. It's not even really a documentary, since he can't get more than a little clip of his dad, and nothing of his mom.

And then he's making movies of actors playing his friends. They are shocked by how well he knows them, but I think the process of making the movies is actually his way of studying their behaviour. He is fixated on knowing them as well as he can, because he cares so deeply about them. But they don't get that.

Then Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking, his first real documentary. He assumes the format will be easy, but he learns to have a more balanced view of it. There are points where being a filmmaker clashes with being a friend, and he treats the narrative as more important than people's feelings. But overall, he's obviously not the villain here, and isn't the main target of anyone's anger. Pierce by virtue of having a big ego and no idea how to mess with Abed, accidentally gave him a very useful opportunity.

Documentary Filmmaking: Redux is really interesting, because what Abed is doing is transparently unkind to begin with. He is so caught up in the story that he is willing to watch his friends descend into chaos for it, even ignoring Troy being clearly upset with him. But he ultimately learns that he can't be completely detached, and he chooses to be kind and help the Dean out.

Advanced Documentary Filmmaking has him trying very seriously to investigate something from all angles, and he seems to have more of a grip on recording the truth without being clumsy or insensitive about it. You could argue that there's a moral dilemma in knowing Jeff's true intentions, but I'm pretty sure Abed always saw through Chang's bullshit.

Then Wedding Videography is kind of the polar opposite of Six Candles, in that he's just filming whatever happens, in a situation that holds little personal significance to him. The only thing he insists on is no Jimming the camera. It feels like he is basically using the camera as a barrier for a social situation he doesn't really want to be part of. And not to sound like a stuck record, but he wouldn't be like that if Troy was there. He's gone from using documentaries as a tool to understand and communicate with people, to using it to detach himself. Which I'm not saying is bad in itself. It's a reasonable coping mechanism, it's just sad that he needs it. It's sad that none of his other friends has developed a consistent way to be quite as grounding and make him feel like a participant, not just an observer.

[familyabolisher]

favourite episode of community?

oh god, too many to count. off the top of my head:

regional holiday music

messianic myths and ancient peoples

cooperative calligraphy

remedial chaos theory

horror fiction in seven spooky steps

documentary filmmaking: redux

basic lupine urology

there are also just so many episodes which i don't think qualify as "favourites" but have individual scenes/setups/etc funny enough for them to live in my brain 24/7. gay dean. now this is a man who knows how to marry his cousin. chang's ham girl arc. he has to go to the bank today. having jeffrey inside me. the asscrack bandit. when chang deludes himself into believing that he's a film noir detective. jeff/dean kiss from a rose karaoke. etc etc etc.

[idialover]

I've been re-watching community for who knows how many times, and I realized how easy it would be to fit the TWST charaters into the plots.

So here are some of my TWST incorrect qoutes from one of my favorite episodes (S3:E8 "Documentary Filmmaking; Redux)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Leona: I suggested we shoot my scenes in front of the Scar statue because the Headmage has no legal right to broadcast Scar's image, which means every shot will be unusable. I even put a call in to Scar's (Disney) lawyers to alert them. I'm always willing to go the extra mile to avoid doing something.

Lillia (walking by): Like sex with women.

Leona: Shut up Lillia, you smell like Mentholyptus. What are you even doing here?

Lillia (to a camera): I'm thinking of breaking into he TV game, since it's apparently sticking around. I don't want to wake up in 30 years and wonder, "What if?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cater: It's great that the Headmage got a celebrity, but why reshoot everything?

Idia: Perfectionism. The Headmage's first step down a road that ends in self-destruction.

Cater: That sound horrible.

Idia: Actually, I might end up taking this to some festivals.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riddle: The headmage had his seventh epiphany today, which has given me an epiphany of my own. The Headmage is a genius. He has to be. If he isn't, I#ve given almost two weeks of my life to an idiot. That is unacceptable. Therefore the Headmage is a genius, and I will die protecting his vision.

Idia: Are you by any chance familiar with Stockholm Syndrome?

Riddle: Is it something that the Headmage created? If not, I don't care.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I could honestly put the entire episode here, so it was quite difficult to choose just three scenes. If you can go watch it, it's available on Netflix. The entire show is a gold mine and I highly recommend it.

[sleepycap]

Apocalypse Now (1979) + Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991) REALLY good anti war movie. I tried watching it a few years ago but stopped for some reason. I watched the original theatrical release, not the redux or final cut of the movie. My friends recommended watching the documentary after it about it's troubled production and it was interesting to watch as well.

[rothko]

community 3x08 documentary filmmaking redux btw. all of season 3 actually.

[autoclav3d]

we as a culture don't appreciate Documentary Filmmaking Redux for the masterpiece of television that it is

[maryfilmblog]

First Presentation !

here's my presentation and notes

Bojack Horseman meets the office directed by Sam Raimi 

Premise-  The life of Desmond, a washed-up hand puppet star from the '80s, battling alcoholism, identity loss, and a failed career Famous for his role in Alien as the Chestburster

Genre-  Dark comedy/mockumentary in the style of *Bojack Horseman* meets * The Office

Desmond

Former star known for his role in *Alien*, now struggling with irrelevance.

A fleshy, cigarette-smoking puppet—gritty, cynical, and perpetually down on his luck.

Practical effects that give Desmond a human-like, yet puppet appearance.

Themes & Tone

Addiction, alcoholism, fading fame, adultery.

Absurdity of a puppet facing real-world problems; a blend of dark, satirical humour with emotional undertones.

Real-World Parallels: Loosely based on the struggles of real-life '80s stars who fell into addiction and irrelevance.

Visuals

Practical Effects: An homage to '80s films—Desmond and other puppet characters will be brought to life with real, tangible effects.

Absurdist Aesthetic- Mixing the ridiculousness of a hand puppet with the dark, gritty subject matter.

Juxtaposition: Childlike visuals clashing with adult themes to enhance the comedy and impact.

Inspirations

Influences: Draws from Bojack Horseman (a character’s fall from grace in Hollywood) and *The Office* (mockumentary style). David Brent, Michael Scott,Gary King, Bernard Black, Charlie Sheen. Community beats as well as the office, specifically Documentary Filmmaking - Redux..

Writing and directing influences  - Ricky Gervais, Ram Raimi, Edgar Wright , Dan Harmon, Phoebe Waller Bridge, Simon Pegg - Nick Frost

Why It’s Unique -  A fleshy puppet, washed up from fame, in a world that treats him like a real, flawed human.

Tone

 Not Too Serious: Although it explores heavy issues, the film doesn’t get bogged down in them—it's ultimately entertaining and absurd.

Engaging Comedy: A mix of existential crises and sheer stupidity, making it enjoyable and ridiculous.

next steps

Audience Appeal- How this blend of absurdity and dark comedy will resonate with modern viewers.

Call to Action: Invite interest in development, production partnerships, or creative input to help bring Desmond’s story to life.

3 ACT STRUCTURE

1- day to day life, reflecting on his past, seeing his life in shambles, dropping hints about his failing marriage, his affairs, his addiction, his run ins with paparazzi 

2- a point of humiliation in public, whether that be on stage at a convention or possibly hearing about a film reboot he expected to be involved in but finds out he is being replaced

 3 - Spiralling out of control - ending bitter sweet and coming to terms with his life checking into rehab, rekindling his love for his wife and children or more in character is his never accepting his time in the spotlight being over and continuing the cycle of self destruction - character study 

Mockumentary is more comedy whereas if i made this a drama it would hit emotional beats that I dont lend itself to the overall film. I want this film to rely on his character and subtext rather than a sad slice of life drama - I'm better at writing comedy than drama i think. Even though the content is heavy it at the end of the day is a sock puppet, I try not to take myself too seriously and I aim to make films that reflect that; ie Don't Be A Dick my previous film.

[feelsohighschool]

documentary filmmaking: redux save me

[theharpermovieblog]

#HARPERSMOVIECOLLECTION

2023

www.tumblr.com/theharpermovieblog

CLASSIC MOVIE REVIEW

I re-watched Apocalypse Now: Redux (1979) (2001)

Francis Ford Coppola's perfect cut of one of the greatest Viet-Nam films ever made.

During the Viet Nam war, A captain is tasked with a secret mission to assassinate a rogue colonel.

If the world was constantly lit like a 1970's Coppola movie, I could live happily in that world.

Perhaps it's the visuals here that always made me feel like, of all the movies about Viet Nam, this was the ultimate one. The Big one. Platoon probably comes a close second. But, Apocalypse Now is less about the Viet Nam war and more about humanity, the coldness of killing and the nature of madness.

This really is a beautiful movie that feels humongous in scope. Big wide shots that encapsulate the enormity of it all and the chaos all around.

The cast is a dream. Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper, Frederic Forrest. Smaller roles played by young Harrison Ford and Lawrence Fishburn.

Directed beautifully from beginning to end by Francis Ford Coppola, who no matter what you think of his later career, has made some of the most perfect movies ever put to film. This one included.

Finally you have the writing of John Millius. If you don't know who he is watch the Documentary "Millius" about his life. You most likely love at least one movie he's written.

Apocalypse Now is a classic that will forever stand the test of time. It has war scenes that are still devastatingly violent and effective. And like every good war movie, you are sick of violence by the end.

For me, Apocalypse Now shows you that being crazy isn't a problem until you stop taking orders. Duvall's character is a war loving psycho who clearly loves the power he's been given. Even Martin sheen, when we first see him is drowning in his own madness. It's Brando's character who is the target of the military because he's gone rogue. He stopped being a dedicated soldier and leader and decided to become a God, which makes him useless and dangerous. Is he more of a monster or doing more horrible things? Maybe. But, in the chaos of war it seems no different than all that's going on around him.

This cut of the film is long and honestly, I do prefer it to the original version.

Do I think this cut is overly long? No, I don't.

It's such good filmmaking that it never loses its hold on you.

Apocalypse Now is, in my opinion, one of the greatest films ever made. One that I come back to when I need to remind myself why I love movies and the power the art form can wield.

When Martin Sheen and his men finally float their way into their destination, you're right there with them. You are fully immersed in the journey you've taken.

After all we've been through, what madness could be next?

[defectivegembrain]

Love how in Documentary Filmmaking: Redux Troy mentions that he liked the little thumbs up in the original Greendale commercial and then Abed puts the footage of him doing that gesture in the new commercial that's the most important footage really good going making sure that it makes his boyfriend happy

[regionalholidaymusic]

Season Three Reviews

3.01 Biology 101

3.02 Geography of Global Conflict

3.03 Competitive Ecology

3.04 Remedial Chaos Theory

3.05 Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps

3.06 Advanced Gay

3.07 Studies in Modern Movement

3.08 Documentary Filmmaking: Redux

3.09 Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism

3.10 Regional Holiday Music

3.11 Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts

3.12 Contemporary Impressionists

3.13 Digital Exploration of Interior Design

3.14 Pillows and Blankets

3.15 Origins of Vampire Mythology

3.16 Virtual Systems Analysis

3.17 Basic Lupine Urology

3.18 Course Listing Unavailable

3.19 Curriculum Unavailable

3.20 Digital Estate Planning

3.21 The First Chang Dynasty

3.22 Introduction to Finality

[j0rdanvic]

I just watched Community 3x08 "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"